An approximate circle approximated to the profile of a filter end face in an inspection image obtained by photographing the filter end face of a filter cigarette is obtained, and the center position of the approximate circle is found. An area indicating a string-like flavor containing element embedded in the filter is detected in the inspection image, and the position of gravity center of the area is found. Distance between the gravity center position indicating the flavor containing element and the center position of the approximate circle is determined, and thus, the quality of the flavor containing element embedded in the filter is inspected.

The invention relates to a filter manufacturing apparatus including a feed path adapted to continuously feed a filter material along a longitudinal transport direction, and a forming device connected to a terminating end of the feed path and adapted to form the filter material into a rod-shaped continuous filter body and deliver the formed continuous filter body. The forming device includes: a tubular element adapted to allow the filter material to pass therethrough to form the filter material into the continuous filter body; a heat source adapted to heat the filter material passing in the tubular element. A diameter measuring device is positioned at the outlet of the forming device and adapted to measure a diameter of the continuous filter body.

The forming apparatus comprises a feed path for continuously feeding a continuous tow material along a transport direction, a forming device connected to a downstream end of the feed path and adapted to form the continuous tow material into a continuous tubular rod. The forming device comprises a tubular element adapted to allow the continuous tow material to pass through the tubular element to form the continuous tubular rod and a steam generator adapted to generate overheated steam. The steam generator is in fluid connection with the tubular element to provide overheated steam to the continuous tow material. The forming device further comprises several fluid conduits to provide overheated steam from the steam generator to several injection sites arranged along a length of the tubular element, wherein at least one fluid conduit of the several fluid conduits comprises a temperature control unit including a temperature sensor and a temperature influencer.

A method for identifying capsule defects in a tobacco filter includes measuring values for density and/or moisture content of the filter using a microwave measurement device. The measured values are compared with a threshold value and a presence of a capsule defect in the filter is determined if the measured valued undershoots the threshold value. A value for a degree of fluctuation of the measured values is determined at a region in front of a measurement location and/or behind the measurement location in which at least one measured value is below the threshold value. The value for the degree of fluctuation is compared with a predetermined capsule threshold value. The capsule defect comprises a broken capsule when the value for the degree of fluctuation exceeds the capsule threshold value, and the capsule defect comprises a missing capsule when the value for the degree of fluctuation undershoots the capsule threshold value.

The forming apparatus comprises a feed path for continuously feeding a continuous tow material along a transport direction, a forming device connected to a downstream end of the feed path and adapted to form the continuous tow material into a continuous tubular rod. The forming device comprises a tubular element adapted to allow the continuous tow material to pass through the tubular element to form the continuous tubular rod and a steam generator adapted to generate overheated steam. The steam generator is in fluid connection with the tubular element to provide overheated steam to the continuous tow material. The forming device further comprises several fluid conduits to provide overheated steam from the steam generator to several injection sites arranged along a length of the tubular element, wherein at least one fluid conduit of the several fluid conduits comprises a temperature control unit including a temperature sensor and a temperature influencer.

A method and device for examining rod-shaped products of the cigarette industry, having a cylindrical lateral surface and two end faces formed by two filter elements arranged at opposite ends, the product having smokable material between the two end faces, by: a) irradiating the lateral surface using examination light whereby the examination light penetrates through the lateral surface at least partially into the product and at least partially exits again through one end face, the beams of which are incident on the lateral surface at an angle of at least 30 in relation to the longitudinal extension of the product; b) acquiring the examination light exiting the end face of the product using an electro-optical receiver, the main viewing direction of which is directed onto the end face; and c) evaluating the brightness or light intensity of the examination light exiting the end face and acquired by the electro-optical receiver.

The present invention relates to an article (10). The article comprises an aerosol-generating substrate (12) and a region (14) positioned longitudinally relative to the aerosol generating substrate. The region comprises a rod segment (16) formed from a plurality of elongate strips (17) of sheet material (18) extending longitudinally through said rod segment. The present invention also relates to a segment of sheet material for a rod segment. The segment of sheet material comprises a segment of a web (44) of sheet material (18) of discrete length comprising a plurality of elongate strips (17) and a band (22) of sheet material extending transversely to the plurality of elongate strips. The plurality of elongate strips extend from the band of sheet material. The present invention also relates to an apparatus (40) for manufacturing rod segments and a method of forming a rod segment.